It's January, 2010. Wow! I can't believe it. When I was a teen I remember wondering how it would feel to live in the 21st century. In the 1960s it seemed like a million years away instead of a mere forty. But here I am— 10 years into the time that I wondered about and while some things have changed, a lot remains the same.
One of the commonalities between 1965 and 2010 is the post-holiday let down that many people experience at this time of year. Sometimes it even takes the form of a mild to moderate depression. Often the reasons for this drop in mood are easy to understand: a few weeks of fun and frenzy and family and glitter and gifts and winter wonderland and white Christmas have melted into the reality of a rather drab, cold, long winter. The parties are over, the decorations are put away, the family is back to bickering, and spring break is not even on the horizon. Other times the reasons for the post-holiday blahs are more subtle: financial stressors due to the cost of Christmas 2009, weight gain accompanied by energy loss due to holiday goodies, fatigue due to emotional and physical stressors and unrealistic expectations throughout the season, loneliness that is more pronounced now that the celebrations have ceased, the realization that things put off until after Christmas have now become pressing, or already broken New Year's resolutions.
Recognizing the problem and the reasons is only part of the solution. Now it's time to take action to turn the blues into blue skies (even amid the gray skies of Indiana.) Perhaps a few of these ideas might be helpful to you:
Get involved in a group or organization at your church. Sing in the choir, take Stephen Ministry training, check out LWML, attend the men's prayer meeting, volunteer to serve on a board, or join a small group. See what's going on in your congregation.
Start your own small group. . .perhaps a book club or a bible study.
Learn a new skill. Long winter nights and weekends allow practice times.
Clean up some clutter. There is great satisfaction in an organized closet or drawer.
Start an exercise program (or restart the one you used prior to the holidays!)
Write notes of appreciation to those who have influenced your life positively.
Give yourself permission to relax in your own way. Are you an artist? A dancer? A writer? A movie buff? Do you like theatre? Long bubble baths? Brisk walks? Unwind in your own way!
Pray. Keep a prayer journal.
Read God's word for understanding and direction. Make changes that you know are God-pleasing. Find an accountability partner.
Keep a reminder of Christmas on display all year! Christmas is the time we set aside for remembering Jesus' birth, but the meaning of Christmas is God's truth for all time. A treasured nativity set, an ornament, a candle, or another memento can be a meaningful, daily reminder of God's love for us in the form of a baby in Bethlehem.
Usually the holiday blues will dissipate as life returns to whatever normal is for you. However, if the low feelings don't go away in a few weeks and are not helped by simple modifications in your lifestyle, consider talking to your pastor, a caring friend, a Stephen Minister, or a Christian Counselor. Some signs of a more serious depression, as compiled by Mayo Clinic, are:
Loss of interest in normal daily activities
Feeling sad or down
Feeling hopeless
Crying spells for no apparent reason
Problems sleeping
Trouble focusing or concentrating
Difficulty making decisions
Unintentional weight gain or loss
Irritability
Restlessness
Being easily annoyed
Feeling fatigued or weak
Feeling worthless
Loss of interest in sex
Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
If any of these symptoms are persistent in your life, please seek help. If you have thoughts of suicide, seek help immediately. Depression is a treatable illness. You don't have to suffer alone.
In these times of uncertainly and change – from season to season, life stage to life state, age to age – how comforting it is to know that our Lord and Savior is certain and unchanging. A blessed 2010 to all of you from the staff at Cross Connections.
